Chapter Two

Days have passed since Syo was rescued by the mermaid. When asked how he managed to find land, he did not bother to tell them the truth since they would never believe him. Instead he simply said it was a miracle he washed up safe and sound. They easily trusted in his story considering the ship and people aboard managed to survive the storm with little to no damage.

As amazing as it was to have fallen overboard and be rescued by a mythical creature, it did have a negative impact on Syo's life. Even though he felt fine about a day later since the event, he was told to stay in bed, though it felt more like an order to the prince. He was not allowed to leave his room until a healer or anyone with healing capabilities cleared him. Syo thought this was all unnecessary, but there was no use in trying to persuade his family's mind. Especially his twin brother who made the order in the first place. The prince loved is brother, but he wished the other would at least let him wander the castle grounds to stretch his legs.

At the very least, his closest guard whom he found a friend in long ago, would help him sneak out of his room to wander the halls quietly to look out the windows from there. Syo's room had a magnificent view of the castle courtyard, but lately he had been longing to see the ocean rather than the rose bushes.

"Syo, I think it's time for you to go back. Your brother checks your room at this time of the day."

"Fine…Thanks, Natsuki. I appreciate you bringing me out so often here…I just really can't believe Kaoru won't let me leave my room at all." The two walked quietly back to Syo's room, or the fancy dungeon as the two jokingly called it. Natsuki understood Syo the most out of anyone in the castle, even his own brother. The prince enjoyed his guard's company and companionship, but he could never bring himself to mention the mermaid to Natsuki. He would never believe him, and most likely tell Syo that he had hallucinated the mermaid rescuing and holding him since he was so close to death that day. He brushed off the notion of telling the other, and returned quietly to his room.

"Can I ask why you want to see the ocean so much lately? I mean, if it were me, I would be terrified of the water if something that awful happened to me…" Natsuki asked the prince as he helped him get into bed, which the other fought against, but gave in.

"Terrified?" Syo whispered to himself. How could anyone be terrified of the water when something so beautiful could be hiding within it's depths. Beautiful? Since when did he believe that? There was no denying the mermaid was beautiful, but did he find himself attracted to it? The creature was so mysterious, and gorgeous that it was possible an attraction might have developed even if it was strange…

"No!" he shouted. Syo was unaware that he was no longer speaking to himself in his mind, but quickly realized it when Natsuki stumbled back.

"Sorry…I won't ask again…" His guard showed himself out the door, leaving the prince to think about what had happened.

His thoughts were consumed by the image of the mermaid each day and night. He could literally not focus on anything without seeing it's beautiful face, and the unique locks of cyan hair cascading down to the mermaid's shoulders. He touched his legs slowly as he recalled the memory of his legs being covered by the tail. If only he could have heard it's voice as well, but maybe it was for the better. The mermaid's voice would have only haunted him. His heart ached, but not from physical pain. Instead it was from his desire to see his savior again even if more a brief moment. He wanted to thank it, and even have a conversation, but there was little chance of that happening.

No, Syo refused to believe that. He would meet the mermaid again, and noting could convince him otherwise. He would look for it every day whenever there was a chance, knowing he could not leave things the way they were. Eventually, the prince drifted off to sleep as the fantasy of his reunion with the mermaid filled his dreams every night

Ever since he rescued the human, Ai found himself filled with more fascination about the human race, but his main concern was fear for his own safety. He hoped maybe the human would believe Ai to have been imagined, but there was little chance in that happening considering how close the two were when the other had fully awakened. If word were to get around about a mythical creature living near the land, he would surely be hunted down. There would be traps set miles away from the shore to capture him and make him some sort of pet or a high price attraction.

Though his thoughts were laced with fear, there was still the underlying fascination with the male he rescued. The young man was beautiful, but handsome. The piercing blue eyes that met his own cyan set locked for a few seconds, but in that precious time Ai felt as though he was drawn to him, like a connection had been forged between the two. He did not understand what this connection was, but he wanted to experience it all over again no matter the cost. This was reckless, and he was completely aware of it, but there was no stopping him now that is mind was made up. However, it would take him at least a few days to summon the courage to visit the beach again.

As the days passed and his courage grew, Ai visited the beach for a few days in hopes of seeing the human. Sadly, he had no luck. However, this would soon change.

Even though Ai felt defeated, there was a strong urge to check the beach one final time before giving up for good. On his way there, he found himself tangled in an old fisherman's net. This obviously wasn't a trap considering how old the net was, but it still proved to be a formidable challenge. No matter how the merman moved, the net would not release him, and it tired him out the more he struggled. Eventually, he came to the idea of beaching himself on the sand to have a better chance of removing the pesky net from body. At the same beach he left the human, Ai continued to struggle with the net, but just as in the water there was no way of getting free. As he was about to give up, Ai suddenly felt something cutting at the net.

As soon as various healers came to consensus about the prince's health, Syo was free to move about the castle again. Though, the young male had plans outside the castle walls rather than wander the halls aimlessly as his family wanted.

In secret, he had prepared to escape and explore the many beaches surrounding the land to search for the mermaid that saved his life. To do this, plans about the guard patrols would need to be memorized, as well selecting the perfect exit to leave the castle without being seen. It took about two days, but the prince was ready to leave the castle and its stifling atmosphere.

As odd as it was, he made is escape during the day. Even though it was easier to be seen during the daytime, the guard patrol wasn't as heavy which turned out to be a good call. Syo was quickly out of the castle, and ran down to the beach where the mermaid had left him. Little did the prince know that fate would be on his side this day.

There on the beach was the mermaid who rescued him caught in a net. The creature was too caught up in it's struggle to even realize Syo was moving closer towards it until he was finally beside the mermaid. He pulled a knife out of his bag, and began to cut the net, but this quickly caught the other's attention, who then tried to move away only to end up laying on it's back cowering in fear.

"Please! Don't hurt me!" the mermaid shouted. Syo slowly helped it to sit back up to show he meant no harm. Once the other realized this, he remained calm as Syo attempted to cut the net again.

"I'm just getting you out of the net. I won't hurt you, I promise." At the prince's word, the creature relaxed more than before, and even sighed in relief. "So, what's your name…If you don't mind me asking of course…"

"My name is Ai…"

"Hello, Ai. You can call me Syo." The prince smiled as he pulled the net off of Ai. "There, now you're free again." As soon as the net was off, Ai began to head to the water, but Syo quickly ran to stop him. "Wait, I want to talk to you. You saved my life, and I want to know my savior." he begged.

The merman stopped in his tracks, and looked back at the prince for a moment before returning to the sand. "I suppose we can talk…so long as no one knows about me."

"Don't worry, I haven't told anyone about you. No one would believe me anyway." he reassured the other. "I've never seen a mermaid before."

"Man."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm a merman…but if you want to call me a mermaid, I don't mind it. Most humans are more aware of the mermaid stories rather than ones with males." Syo's cheeks were dusted with a light shade of pink at hearing Ai's explanation.

"S-Sorry…I didn't know there was a term just for males."

The two grew quiet for a long moment as Ai stared at Syo's hair, while the latter stared at the other's tail. The merman quickly caught on, and lifted the prince's hand to place it on his tail. The blond swallowed nervously as his hand slowly stroked it.

"I don't mind you touching it…You did promise to keep my existence a secret, and you did cut me out of the net."

Syo smiled as he continued to feel Ai's tail, fully enjoying the texture, as the other sighed happily at the soothing strokes. As beautiful as this moment was to both the human and merman, it did not last long. Syo could hear his guard's voice, obviously it was Natsuki's voice, who was searching for him. Ai immediately went back into the water to avoid being seen by another human.

"Let's meet again tomorrow!" Syo shouted at the sea after he stood up. He could not explain it, but something in his heart told him Ai would return for another visit. There was also no denying that Ai felt the same about Syo keeping his promise for a second visit. Both left with a smile on a their face regardless of the sudden abruption to their otherwise fateful reunion.